In sport we have to take in a range of different performers, who come from various different backgrounds cultures and beliefs, each of these has its own demands and regulations for participation in sport and so it is the job of different organisations and sporting parties to overcome this, finding ways to include and allow everyone to participate in sport.

The sports Development / Performance pyramid is an explanation of how participation and ability can be measured in sport. It helps to highlight the route a performer can take to become an elite performer. It includes four different sections;

-The Foundation stage At this stage sport practisers are classed as novices, where the achievement and learning of basic skills and techniques are achieved. A scheme run by the government which helps to widen the amount of children participating in sport is called the 5x60 scheme.

-The participation stage
This stage consists of anyone who participates in sport regularly, for reasons such as socialising, health or fitness or enjoyment, to develop their skills in an activity.

-The performance stageThe Performance level consists of anyone involved in sport who aims to improve their skills. A participant will show commitment to help perfect their skills and they will be at a club or regional standard.

-The elite stageConsists of skilled performers who aim to achieve set standards that are measurable usually through competition. Activities at Excellence level usually have rewards that motivate the individual, such as trophies or money.

At each stage of the sports development continuum there are different factors which can sometimes prevent and hold back individuals from participating in sport, these are known as ‘barriers to participation’. Some examples of these would be as below, each of which will be discussed and explored within this essay;

-Cultural
-Economic
-Historical

As well as this I will be looking into the target groups within the sporting industry…the participants. Finding out how their different group types can affect them in a sporting environment. The three I will be exploring are as below;

-OAP
-Women
-Young people.

AGE-OAP.The biggest differences in participation relate to age, the older people become the less likely performance at competition standard and elite activity occurs, this is why they aren’t associated with the elite stage of the performance pyramid, and instead fall into the bottom category - the foundation stage, it is here that sport is taken at the lowest form of its competitive and serious atmosphere, where participants play more for enjoyment and social aspects, with little technical and skilful actions/movements to follow. It is the least physically and mentally demanding sector, with little stress and pressure to succeed, meaning it does not require huge amounts of training and commitment from its members. The section below taken from a study found at (www.scotland.gov.uk) discus’s age differences in relation to participation, showing how it can be a major factor of concern within the sporting environment. Age best predicts participation in sport, exercise or physical activity. The proportions in each age-group who exercise several times a week are: * 50% of those aged 16-24

* 36% of those aged 25-34
* 38% of those aged 35-44
* 32% of 45-59 year olds
* 34% of 60 to 74 year olds
* 20% of those aged 75 and over.
The above data collected from (www.scotland.gov.uk)Shows a significant drop in participation levels between the ages of (16-24) and (75 and over) stating that the older generation of people take part in a lot less physical activity than those younger than them. Taking part in sport and exercise by age;

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